Who is eligible for a UK Seasonal Work Visa?

Nationwide Visas
[Published 29 Aug, 2024 | 02:43 PM]
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The UK Seasonal Worker Visa has two categories:

• Seasonal Worker Visa: Horticulture Sector
• Seasonal Worker Visa: Poultry Production Sector

Seasonal Worker Visa: Horticulture Sector

The Horticulture Sector Seasonal Worker Visa is for overseas citizens aged above 18 years to arrive in the UK for a maximum of six months to work. This is for work such as picking vegetables, fruits, or flowers.

A fixed timeline is not applicable for immigrants to work for their UK Sponsors. They can file an application and arrive in the UK at any time of the year. The work type that they can take up in the horticulture industry relates to:

• Sheltered vegetables grown in systems of glasshouse
• Field vegetables cultivated outdoors inclusive of potatoes, leafy salads, herbs, and vegetables  
• Soft fruits grown both undercover and outdoors inclusive of raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, and all rubus and ribes species
• Orchard fruit or top fruit like plums, apples, apricots or cherries
• Bines and vine-like hops and grapes
• Diverse categories of species of mushrooms, usually cultivated indoors
• Cut flowers and bulbs like daffodils, cultivated both outdoors and indoors
• Seasonal pot plants and beddings like violas, pansies, poinsettias and geraniums
• Hardy nursery stock like Shrubs, Christmas trees, Roses, perennials and ornamental
• Other categories of forest nurseries and trees

Seasonal Worker Visa: Poultry Production Sector

The Horticulture Sector Seasonal Worker Visa is for overseas citizens aged above 18 years to arrive in the UK to work as a poultry seasonal worker. However, this is only during the period 2 October to 31 December.

The above dates denote the peak and busy periods in the poultry production industry, during and throughout Christmas. Those who are seeking to arrive in the UK as seasonal workers in the poultry sector have to submit their application by November 15 every year.

The category of work that can be undertaken in the poultry production industry includes:

• Bird/Game Dresser
• Butcher
• Plucker
• Killer and Plucker
• Poulterer
• Poultry Sticker
• Poultry Processor
• Trusser
• Food Operative
• Poultry Vaccinator
• Poultry Catcher/Handler
• Poultry Meat Packer

Requirements of Seasonal Worker Visa

To obtain the Seasonal Worker Visa, applicants must have attained 18 years of age and need to possess an authentic COS - Certificate of Sponsorship from an approved scheme operator. The COS has to confirm specific details of the applicant like personal information and that they have sponsorship as a Seasonal Worker. It also needs information on their occupation profile like start and end dates, location, hours per week, and salary.

Regarding the salary for a Seasonal Worker Visa, the COS has to confirm:

• The applicant will work in a qualified role in the poultry or horticulture production industries either according to the type of produce cultivated or the applicable code of the occupation
• The applicant will receive a minimum of £10.42 hourly for work in the poultry production or horticulture sector as either a poultry catcher/handler, food operative, poultry meat packer, or poultry vaccinator
• They will get a minimum of 32 hours weekly paid employment for work in the poultry production or horticulture sector as either a poultry catcher/handler, food operative, poultry meat packer, or poultry vaccinator
• Any worker who receives sponsorship as either bird/game dresser or butcher in the poultry production sector has to be paid a minimum of £10.75 hourly and 26,200 annually
• The sponsor has to make sure that the job role sponsored has to make payment of the minimal wage and adheres to rules in the UK for maximum work hours weekly. Further, the COS has to confirm that the role fulfils the applicable rate according to the Agricultural Wages Order, if applicable

The policies for sponsorship of Seasonal Workers are stringent. In case of failure in compliance with the rules and regulations confirmation of the same on the COS will result in invalidation of the application.

To apply for UK PR Visa or UK Seasonal Work Visa, contact the Best UK Immigration Consultants in India - Nationwide Visas.

Read more:- How to apply for Permanent Residency in the UK from India?